Foghat - Foghat Live

Foghat Live captures the British boogie merchants at full roar in 1977, six tracks of road-hardened blues rock recorded at the height of their American success.

Formed in London by former members of Savoy Brown, Foghat made their name in the United States, touring relentlessly and treating every arena like a sweaty club. By the time this was taped they were firing on all cylinders, and the set plays like a greatest-hits package with the amplifiers pushed well past sensible.

Fool for the City kicks the door in with swagger and slide guitar, and their take on Willie Dixon's I Just Want to Make Love to You turns the old blues standard into a stomping, sweat-soaked singalong. Honey Hush rattles along at a gallop, all twin-guitar crunch and pounding drums. Then comes Slow Ride, stretched out into a sprawling, cowbell-punctuated jam that leaves the crowd hoarse and the band sounding like they could keep going until sunrise.

Short, loud and joyously unpretentious, it is a perfect snapshot of 1970s rock and roll as a live event, when a great band, a packed hall and a wall of speakers were all anybody needed. It still sounds best played at a volume your neighbours will remember.